title: Distraction from pain and executive functioning: an experimental investigation of the role of inhibition, task switching and working memory.
abstract: Although many studies have investigated the effectiveness of distraction as a method of pain control, the cognitive processes by which attentional re-direction is achieved, remain unclear. In this study the role of executive functioning abilities (inhibition, task switching and working memory) in the effectiveness of distraction is investigated. We hypothesized that the effectiveness of distraction in terms of pain reduction would be larger in participants with better executive functioning abilities. Ninety-one undergraduate students first performed executive functioning tasks, and subsequently participated in a cold pressor task (CPT). Participants were randomly assigned to (1) a distraction group, in which an attention-demanding tone-detection task was performed during the CPT, or (2) a control group, in which no distraction task was performed. Participants in the distraction group reported significantly less pain during the CPT, but the pain experience was not influenced by executive functioning abilities. However, the performance on the distraction task improved with better inhibition abilities, indicating that inhibition abilities might be important in focussing on a task despite the pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. kat.verhoeven@ugent.be
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eccleston
authors.forename: Dimitri M L
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Van Ryckeghem
authors.forename: Valéry
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Legrain
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crombez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D059328:Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Control / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult